Part 14 (2/2)

”I'm sorry, I guess I just never believed it until now. It's still hard to see why me.” I said weakly and even Ragnar looked down at his feet. Sophia took my hand in hers and she looked at me with more love than from a friend...this was from a sister.

”Then you are the only one. No one else doubts why. You are beautiful and in more ways than one. Aurora is beautiful yes but her soul is ugly and it shows on the outside. Your soul is pure and it radiates off you in every way. In this she will never be able to compete...you are out of her league and of this, she is painfully reminded every time she see's you sat by my brother's side.” For the first time I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. It must be a hard pill to swallow.

”Poor girl” I said but Sophia couldn't contain her outburst. She laughed so hard it nearly brought tears.

”Oh Keira, you are funny! She does not deserve your pity. She is the creator of her own undoing. She knew about the prophecy and that one day you would come. She never really loved him anyway...it was the power she loved. There is no one in this world or the next, that she could love more than herself.” I now knew why she seemed to hate her so much. After all, wouldn't I be the same with Libby if Frank had been the same way. One of the reasons I loved Frank so much wasn't how he treated me, no, it was how much he adored my sister.

Ok so now I was feeling slightly better and she could tell as now I was smiling to myself, so she added something more that sealed the deal on my mood.

”Anyway you think she is beautiful but she does have a team of girls who get her ready every night, but you drive my brother crazy without having to work at it! Why do you think it is that he won't allow you to come to my private room? He gets insanely jealous over you, far more than he ever did when he was with Aurora.” I couldn't help the huge grin that split my lips and strangely Ragnar started to relax more at the sight. He raised his head up and smiled to himself. It was an odd reaction for him to have but I just shrugged it off.

When we got closer to town I decided it would be better for her to drop me off at home before I got my supplies for tonight's meal. I thought it was one thing going clothes shopping in a blacked out stretch limo but to the supermarket....a tad much. Plus I couldn't really see Sophia pus.h.i.+ng a trolley around the frozen food section.

We pulled up outside the house and I thanked G.o.d that no one was home and I knew Libby and Frank must still be sorting out his uncle's insurance for the 'ruined' cabin. Ragnar grabbed all my bags even when I protested and he was by my front door waiting before I could walk two steps. Then I remembered what I wanted to ask Sophia before she left, I turned round to find the window already down and her sat there waiting.

”Yes?” She said as though she knew there was something I was forgetting.

”How did you know?”

”I am finding it easier, the more I am with you, to read the signs. You wanted to ask something else about my brother?” I shook my head and smiled before asking the all important question.

”What does your brother like to eat?” I don't know why but I found myself going red when I asked.

”Anything hot.” She said making me laugh at her answer.

”You mean spicy hot?”

”Use your imagination honey! See you later.” And with that the window went up with the same evil grin on her face that I was getting used to seeing. I found myself still smiling as I walked up the steps. Ragnar eyed me curiously and when I put my hands out to retrieve my bags he just nodded for me to open the door. Well, he was well trained that was for sure I thought as he followed me in.

”You can just dump them there.” I said but he c.o.c.ked his head to one side that reminded me of a dog that doesn't understand a command. Then I felt guilty for thinking it.

”Dump?”

”Yeah, I mean you can just put them down over there.” Ok, he must have thought I meant throwing them away... hehe.

”Would you like a drink?” He actually smiled at me but then it fell straight away.

”No, I will be outside waiting.” And with that he left to guard the house. I couldn't understand why one minute he was nice and then the next it was like I was an annoying bug buzzing around that he wanted to swat. It seemed to be my year for not understanding men.

I grabbed all my bags and ran upstairs with them but like true Keira style I tripped and landed on my knee.

”b.u.g.g.e.r!” I said out loud and then I heard Ragnar burst through the door and was next to me in seconds.

”What is wrong?” He asked looking down at me, seeming very cramped in the narrow staircase to my attic room.

”Nothing, I just tripped.” I was holding my knee, rubbing it knowing that it was going to leave a bruise. Then I let out a shriek as I felt myself being picked up by the waist and carried into my bedroom. He plonked me down on the bed and I turned and looked up at the giant who was ducking his head to fit in my room.

”Umm... thanks!” I said feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. He frowned and then knelt down but he was still higher than me. He lifted my leg up and it started to sting.

”Ouch!” I said but he just smirked at my baby like behaviour.

”What are you doing?” I asked nervously when he started to lift my jeans up but he didn't answer me. He rolled them over my knee and, yes of course, it was bleeding. He put his face down closer to the cut and I pulled back making him growl.

”What are you doing?” I asked again, as he looked like was going to take a slip.

”I am going to heal it. My master will not be happy if he sees this, it will displease him....I, will have displeased him.”

”But this wasn't your fault, I'm clumsy that's all.”

”Yes I know, he warned me of this, but you wouldn't have fallen if I had carried your bags up here.” His eyes met mine and for once they weren't harsh or cold. I bit my lip at the feel of his ma.s.sive hands that grabbed my leg back and pull it closer to his face. He then took a few deep breaths and blew over it, causing it to instantly turn numb and icy.

He wouldn't allow my natural reaction to happen as I tried to pull away. It was impossible to move with his vice grip that had my leg locked. It felt like he was freezing my blood and the skin around the wound. I s.h.i.+vered as it started to run up my leg but then I felt him release me and after a few minutes of being under his control he spoke.

”It is finished, you can open your eyes now,” he informed me and I was surprised that I had indeed closed my eyes. I looked down and noticed the blood had in fact frozen and with the softest touch he casually brushed it away like red icy dust to reveal unbroken skin underneath. I was amazed how quick it had taken but I was more shocked at how such a frightening giant could have been so gentle. I was touched and when he was about to stand I put my hand on his shoulder.

”Thank you.” He looked to his right where my hand was and then back at me. He looked as if he wanted to say something more but then thought better of it. He lowered his head into a deep nod and then rose from his knees and left without saying another word. I looked down at my knee and touched the smooth skin for myself, there wasn't even a mark!

After I pulled myself together, I got up to put my new clothes away and tidy my room a bit just in case we were spending the night here. I didn't want Draven thinking I was a slob, so I also changed the sheets and let the window open to let some fresh air in. That's when I saw him. Ragnar was below my window with his back to the house and he was staring out to the view of the national park's mountains. He had his arms folded and his head shook slightly before looking at his feet. I didn't know what was wrong with him but I felt bad that it could be because of something I did. I was growing attached to my colossal protector and I didn't like seeing him in pain.

I had a quick cup of tea before ringing Libby to check we were still on for tonight. She sounded stressed out but said it was fine and that they would be home in an hour. I rea.s.sured her again that I didn't mind cooking and I sat down to make a list while I finished my tea. I checked the cupboards for anything else we needed and added it to my list before grabbing my jacket. It had started to drizzle and I couldn't help but raise my head to it when I got outside. I didn't notice Ragnar next to me and when I open my eyes he was frowning at me.

”What, I like the rain!” I said before giving him a cheeky smile and walking over to my truck. I call it a truck because it was a huge Ford Bronco that I could have lived in! He followed shaking his head like I was crazy but this I knew anyway, the only difference was now, I just didn't care. I had Draven in my life and that was worth being a little crazy for.

I felt the truck sink down when Ragnar got in and I started the engine. When it started first time I smiled.

”What, no talking to it?” He asked not keeping the sarcasm out his heavy accented voice.

”Nah she's fine with rain, she just hates the cold.”

”You are a different human.” He stated like he had just figured me out. I shrugged as I pulled the car round and made for the main road.

”Don't you think I would have to be... all things considering?” Now he was the one to shrug only when I did it, it didn't make the car move! We carried on driving in silence for a while until it was starting to eat away at me so when I finally said something, it came out sounding more like I was ranting.

”What's wrong with you? Is it because I called you a Jerk because you know I'm sorry for that...don't you?” This made him turn to me in shock and I was glad that I had the road in front to keep my attention.

”You think that bothered me?”

”Didn't it?”

”NO, you are a wilful human so it is to be expected.” Ok, so if this was the case then what was wrong with him?

”Well if you hate protecting me so much then why don't you just ask Draven to get someone else?” He growled again and I jumped.

”You know there is no need to do that!” I snapped.

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